MetroDemic just delivered on a custom team building event in Fort Worth for incoming students at Texas A&M University School of Law. The event pitted over 30 teams against one another in a race around downtown Fort Worth to save lives from a fictitious epidemic.

As part of their new student orientation, the school was looking for a high energy and socially interactive way to connect incoming students. They picked MetroDemic because it met those criteria, was well within the budget, and offered opportunities to customize the game specifically for this group.

On the morning of the event, all of the participants were gathered together at the Texas A&M University School of Law campus just south of the Fort Worth Convention Center. Students were given an envelope with the names of three other mystery team members and an activation code to play the game. Teams then embarked on a 100-minute outing as they discovered hidden locations, got to know the downtown area, and solved trivia and mental challenges for points. At the conclusion of the event, teams were sent off to a variety of local restaurants to celebrate their heroism and new friendships!

One of the parts that our MetroDemic staff enjoyed the most was customizing our game for this team building event. Custom elements included:

Changing the starting line to be much closer to the University.

Adding custom stops in the game to get students familiar with local transportation options, law offices, and the Tarrant County Courthouse.

A longer game clock to allow more time for the walk from the Texas A&M University School of Law building

A custom finish line to get all of the students in the heart of downtown Fort Worth for wonderful restaurant selections.

The group event was a big success! There were approximately 150 students playing the game and the administration was handled by a couple of pros on the University staff.

While building out our MetroDemic game in Fort Worth, we came across several historic plaques that provide insight into Fort Worth’s history. Enjoy this virtual tour of some of the historic signs we came across in Fort Worth, their locations, and a typed out inscription in case the photos are hard to read.

City National Bank Building

Built in the early 1870’s this building’s original tenant was John S. Andrews Loan, Land & Livestock Company. In the 1880’s it became Fort Worth’s first bank, City National Bank, which was forced to liquidate ten years later during the 1890’s depression. Originally a four story structure, the mansard roof was at one time removed. During the complete renovation in 1980, the original architectural plans were discovered and the building again received its intended fourth floor.

Burk Burnett Building

Find this historical sign at GPS coordinates 32.754386, -97.331195. This is near the intersection of 4th and Main.

Built in 1914, this building was designed for banker, Earl Baldridge, to house the State National Bank. One year later in 1915 it was sold to legendary cattleman Samuel Burk Burnett, whose 6666 Ranches are famous in Texas history for cattle, oil, scientific breeding and thorough-bred horses. Known as Fort Worth’s first “Skyscraper”, it was built with cattle money in the heyday of Fort Worth as a cowtown.

Knights of Pythias Hall

Find this historical marker at GPS coordinates 32.755239, -97.331568. This is near the intersection of Main and 3rd Street.

The first Knights of Pythian Castle was erected here in 1881 and rebuilt after a fire in 1901. A replica of the original Knight of Armor was installed during the Sundance Square renovation. The first rotary offset printing press was installed in this building in the early 1950’s.

Domino Building

Originally Buck’s Domino Parlor Gaming House. This location was known as “The Casino of the Wild West” where fortunes were won and lost. Such famous personalities as Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and Luke Short, who was the kingpin of honest high stakes gambling in Fort Worth, frequented this area in the late 1880’s.

Morris and Conn Buildings

Find this historical marker at GPS coordinates 32.75543, -97.331912. Find this sign on Main Street between 2nd and 3rd.

Originally the notorious Wild West watering hole known as the “White Elephant Saloon”. Long-Hair Jim Courtwright who had been both Federal and City Marshall here was shot and killed by Gambler – King Luke Short, February 8, 1887 at the doorway to Miss Ella Blackwell’s Shooting Gallery just north of the White Elephant Saloon. Some said Short was faster than the usually quick-draw Courtwright. Police reported a jammed cylinder on Courtwright’s pistol.

Plaza Hotel Building

Find this sign at GPS coordinates 32.755573, -97.331762. The Plaza hotel plaque can be found near the intersection of Main Street and 3rd Street.

This building was constructed in 1908 as a saloon with “guest” rooms on the top floors. It belonged to Winfield Scott, one of Fort Worth’s most prominent citizens who amassed a small fortune in the cattle business. A popular lodging place for cattlemen marketing their herds at Fort Worth stockyards, this building is the best example remaining in Fort Worth of a small “cattle-era” hotel.

Land Title Building

Find this sign at GPS coordinates 32.7548081,-97.330692. You can find this sign near the intersection of Commerce Street and E. 4th Street.

Pioneer architect Haggart and Sanguinet designed this brick, sandstone and cast iron building with rounded arched windows and other ornate details. It featured the first known stone carving in Fort Worth, the figure of an owl, and displayed the initials of lawyers Ross, Herd, and Ross, who occupied the second floor, above the title firm. The structure is architecturally important because its style was rare in this region when it was built in 1889.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 1977.

Western Union Building

Find this sign at GPS coordinates 32.755222 -97.331748, which is currently where Razoos restaurant is located.

The first telegraphed communication to Fort Worth came via a private line rigged to Eagle Ford in 1874. The Western Union Telegraph Company moved offices to this location with a moments interruption in service, in August 1931. The telegraph company played an integral part in the city’s growth, linking Fort Worth to the world’s leading cattle, grain and oil markets. The building’s flashy, progressive Zigzag Art Deco style, by architect James B. Davies, Sr., was a great association with the company’s modern technology.

Fort Worth has a very colorful history and has done a great job with people who are willing to take a short walk around town. We hope you’ll get out soon to enjoy historic Fort Worth!

A highly unique (and slightly disturbing) team building event known as MetroDemic is now available in downtown Fort Worth. In the game, teams of four compete against one another to save the most lives from a deadly epidemic that is ravaging Fort Worth.

Starting in Sundance Square, participants hustle on foot within a three block radius to discover new outbreaks that are being sent to a smartphone by our team of virtual (and incompetent) scientists. Once the team discovers an outbreak site, they are tasked with answering challenging questions that range from local history to pop culture to things you should remember from the 4th grade.

Every question your team gets right saves lives and boosts your score! How many souls can your group save in this fun team building event in the heart of Fort Worth?

What makes MetroDemic great as a team building event is that the game map evolves differently for every team that plays. Your group will start and finish at the same location, and teams will constantly cross paths as they race to save lives, but this isn’t a traditional tour where everyone follows the same path.

Our Fort Worth game is ideal for groups with 20-50 people. The cost is unbeatable compared to similar team building events and right in the heart of downtown Fort Worth.